What do you use for flea/tick prevention?

sillylilykitty · 06-03-2007, 06:35 PM

I noticed on the other thread some of you mentioned you dont use anything on your dogs. Well how do you keep the fleas and ticks off your dogs? I use Revolution on Lily, prevents her from getting almost everything. When I think about it sometimes I think I shouldnt use anything since shes an inside cat, but I do take her outside occasionally (like yesterday).

So what do you use?

luv4gsds · 06-03-2007, 07:01 PM

Well I use a homemade neem oil treatment on my dogs, these type of treatment has been working for many of years now without any side effects. I even make a homemade spray for the family to keep mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs off of us.

http://www.neemfoundation.org/

http://www.organix.net/organix/neem.htm

tirluc · 06-03-2007, 07:07 PM

luv4gsds, could you pm me the "recipe" you use for the neem oil? ....i'd like to give it a try.....

but, what i have been doing for the past 2 yrs is brewers yeast and olive oil in their food every night......if i go somewhere that i know is real high tick infested, they get a bath w/ flea/tick shampoo (which i want to replace w/ something natural) or a quick dip when we get home, but that has only been 2x in the past 2 yrs.....

just a note: i have taken my dogs places that friends using one of those chemical things have on their dogs (even "fresh") and they have come back w/ ticks and mine are clean......and the 'skeeters stay away, as well....

Dieselsmama · 06-03-2007, 08:31 PM

Both Kalli kitty and Ella puppy are on Revolution

briteday · 06-04-2007, 01:34 AM

I like Advantix. But we are in an area that is very unlikely to get either. We only treat if we see something, like once in 25 years!

LHARTWICK · 06-06-2007, 05:34 PM

I use Frontline Plus on 2 of my 3 dogs. As long as I religiously put it on them once a month and keep our back yard treated with granules, they do fine. We live in Arkansas so fleas/ticks are a year-round battle for sure!

As for my third dog, I am in the process of reconditioning him - he was a stray that has apparently been abused and we are unable to hold or handle him right now so he doesn't get any kind of f/t treatment.

tirluc: could you tell me more about the olive oil/brewers yeast combo? I would be interested in this for my little Harley stray. Thanks!

Cheetah · 06-06-2007, 11:51 PM

I use nothing. Colorado doesn't really have a flea problem. In my over 13 years of living here, I've NEVER had a pet get fleas, ticks, or heartworm.

If I go out of state, however, I will use prevention. The brand/type I use depends on where I'm going, as fleas etc. have adapted to certain types of protection in certain areas.

sillylilykitty · 06-06-2007, 11:58 PM

Cheetah, since CO doesnt have many fleas, do you think I should stop giving it to my cat. She lives indoors, but I bring her outside on walks occasionally and sometimes bring her other places too (school, friends houses). Also I she does go to cat shows anytime there is one (next one is on July 7-8). At the cat shows there are cats from all over the US, BUT if a flea was found on a cat it would be disqualified and everyone would know about it. At all the shows I have been to, I havent heard of one cat having fleas at a show. So would it be a good idea to stop or should I keep using it.

In Hawaii we have fleas all year round so Im used to using it all the time. But if its not needed I would rather save the money and save Lily the harassment (she gets mad at me when I put it on her!).

Cheetah · 06-07-2007, 01:16 AM

I would stop giving it unless you discover a problem. I don't think it's healthy to put pesticides on/in your pet unless it's necessary/fleas are discovered.

My cat is nearing 5 now and the only time she ever had fleas was the first day I brought her home, because she had come from a hoarder, so it was pretty unsanitary, and she was very unhealthy and young. Fleas more readily go for unhealthy, dirty animals. Because of our altitude and climate here, all it took was a single bath in Dawn dish soap to kill the fleas. They are very weak here, when they are found at all. >^_^<

peace36 · 06-07-2007, 08:02 AM

Frontline Plus

LHARTWICK · 06-07-2007, 09:41 AM

Cheetah: I hope you realize how lucky you are not to have a f/t problem! Other than the heat down here, that's second on my list of things I hate about living in the south, although the list is not too long!

sillylilykitty · 06-07-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I would stop giving it unless you discover a problem. I don't think it's healthy to put pesticides on/in your pet unless it's necessary/fleas are discovered.

My cat is nearing 5 now and the only time she ever had fleas was the first day I brought her home, because she had come from a hoarder, so it was pretty unsanitary, and she was very unhealthy and young. Fleas more readily go for unhealthy, dirty animals. Because of our altitude and climate here, all it took was a single bath in Dawn dish soap to kill the fleas. They are very weak here, when they are found at all. >^_^<

Thanks Cheetah! I think I will stop using it soon, or maybe I will stop when I run out of the stuff I have. I will have to talk to my sister about it first, shes getting a kitten this summer!

onyxdaily · 06-07-2007, 01:10 PM

Luv4gsds, I would also be interested in having your recipe for both the homemade oil treatment and the mosquito spray. Could you either post these recipes or PM them to me? Thanks.

Oh, I currently use Frontline Plus on all 3 of my dogs.

sillylilykitty · 06-07-2007, 02:03 PM

I think Luv4gsd's should just post the recipe because my sister would LOVE to know it for her new kitten! And I would like to know too

sheltiemom · 06-07-2007, 06:34 PM

I use Advantage on the dogs, and it does fine on fleas, but they have both had a few ticks. I think I will switch when what I have is gone. I don't use anything on the older cat b/c she never goes outdoors, but the vet recommended I use one treatment on the new cat b/c she was previously stray, so she got one Frontline.

Lorina · 06-07-2007, 09:15 PM

Forget the pets. I want a mosquito spray that works on me!

I haven't been bit this year so far. *crosses fingers*

It's been very dry this June. Last June it rained 20 out of 30 days, and most of my city had to be evacuated because of the risk of a major flood. Some areas were hit really hard, but thankfully, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. And my house is halfway up the mountain, way out of any flood zones.

Edited to add: Preferred choice is Advantix for Beavis, but I have used Revolution. I don't think it's quite as good on ticks, though. I use Advantage or Revolution as needed on the cats. They don't go out and don't go near the dog, but I did find flea poop on one when she was at the vet's last.

CrzyBritNAmerica · 06-07-2007, 09:41 PM

Hey luv4gsds, I'd love that recipe too if you don't mind.

I don't use anything with Bridgette. We don't have a major flea/tick problem in Flagstaff because it's freezing cold for most of the year. I do use heartworm preventative year round, but nothing for fleas/ticks.

luvntzus · 06-08-2007, 03:29 AM

I don't like using pesticides or chemicals so the only thing I've used for my dogs is a Neem shampoo. I haven't seen ONE flea so far this year. They don't spend a lot of time in the grass, but if they did I would also use a Neem spray before going outside. Here are some products:

Tropiclean Neem shampoo (the one I use)
http://www.tropiclean.net/tropiclean_page.html#neem

Botanical Dog neem shampoo, conditioner, ear cleaner, and spray
http://www.botanicaldog.com/products.php?cat=7

Ark Naturals shampoo
http://www.arknaturals.com/products/...&Product_ID=10

and spray
http://www.arknaturals.com/products/...&Product_ID=11

sweetardnas1885 · 06-08-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sillylilykitty

Cheetah, since CO doesnt have many fleas, do you think I should stop giving it to my cat. She lives indoors, but I bring her outside on walks occasionally and sometimes bring her other places too (school, friends houses). Also I she does go to cat shows anytime there is one (next one is on July 7-8). At the cat shows there are cats from all over the US, BUT if a flea was found on a cat it would be disqualified and everyone would know about it. At all the shows I have been to, I havent heard of one cat having fleas at a show. So would it be a good idea to stop or should I keep using it.

In Hawaii we have fleas all year round so Im used to using it all the time. But if its not needed I would rather save the money and save Lily the harassment (she gets mad at me when I put it on her!).

If mosquitos are a problem in your area (I don't know how they are wwhere you are) I would stay on the revolution as it protects against heartworms. Lily is a cat right? Many people don't think that cats can get heartworms when in fact they can. Heartworms are more a silent killer in cats. And since heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, if the little blood suckers are a problem in your area it would be good to stay on the revolution or get Heartgard for cats of something to the affect...Just my opinion,